Turkey call

ABSTRACT

A turkey call which includes as a first element, a rectangular call box open at one end to define an internal sound chamber and constructed of cedar side and end strips, a formica cap and base and a slate plate located on the cap and coextensive in size with the sound chamber. A striker is provided as a second element and includes a solid plastic striker tip attached to a handle, and the handle is further characterized by a handle sound chamber which communicates with the plastic striker tip by means of an interior plenum. The striker tip is bevelled at the extending end, with the bevel terminating in a rounded tip end for engaging the slate striker plate on the call box and simultaneously emitting sounds from the call box sound chamber and striker sound chamber to simulate the call of a wild turkey.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Field of the Invention

This invention relates to game calls and more particularly, to a turkeycall which is characterized by a rectangular call box having a wood andformica frame, an opening in one short end of the frame and an interiorsound chamber with a slate striker plate located on a formica surface. Astriker completes the novel turkey call and includes a wooden handlehaving a cylindrical striker sound chamber therein, a plastic strikertip projecting from the opposite end of the handle and a plenumcommunicating between the striker sound chamber and the attached end ofthe striker tip. The opposite end of the striker tip is tapered todefine a rounded tip end which is rubbed across the slate surface to setup vibrations and sounds in the call box sound chamber and striker soundchamber, which sounds simulate the call of a wild turkey.

2. Description of the Prior Art

Game calls of various description have been known for centuries. Anearly turkey call consisted simply of a piece of slate rubbed by a rockor hardwood stick to generate vibrations which simulate game noises tothe ear. Through the years, more sophisticated game calls have beendeveloped, with modern electronic, battery-powered counterparts of theearly calls now commonly used to lure various game during hunting orfilming expeditions.

An early "Bird Call" is disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 1,034,307, dated July30, 1912, to W. H. Saunders. The Saunders bird call includes a flatpiece of slate which is rubbed by the rounded end of a corn cob, shapedto define a "tone tube". U.S. Pat. No. 2,643,483, dated June 30, 1953,to W. J. Walker, details a "Wild Game Calling Device" which includes acasing-like member enclosing a disc or slab of slate which is positionedto rub against the ends of pins or pegs, designed for relative rotationwith respect to the slate. Variations in the sound emitted, both as totone and volume, are obtained by pressing selected areas of the casingcarrying the pegs during relative rotation of the parts. A "SquirrelCall" is disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 2,629,968, dated Mar. 3, 1953, to G.L. Herter. The Herter squirrel call includes a generallyrectangular-shaped box having rounded ends and a hollow interior. A thinreed plate closes the top of the box and projects over one edge of thebox to define a striking edge. The rough or knurled edge of an elongatedstriker bar is struck or rubbed against the striking edge of the reedplate to simulate the sound of a squirrel. U.S. Pat. No. 2,958,157,dated Nov. 1, 1960, to W. P. Tannehill, discloses a "Bird Call" whichincludes a sound-producing box having rounded ends and a sheet of slateclosing the top. The bottom of the box is provided with a dovetail slotfor receiving a cooperating dovetail flange provided in arectangular-shaped striker. A "Wild Fowl Call" is detailed in U.S. Pat.No. 3,100,948, dated Aug. 20, 1963, to E. J. Tax. The Tax game callingdevice is characterized by an elongated, hollow box having a flatbottom, an open top, tapered sides and a handle projecting from one end.An actuator arm projects longitudinally over the open top of the box andis pivotally anchored to the box at one end. A bar of slate is clippedto the actuator arm in transverse relationship and the call emits noiseswhich simulate the call of a wild fowl when the slate bar is rubbedacross the projecting edges of the sides of the box, responsive tomanipulation of the activator arm. A Duck Call is disclosed in U.S. Pat.No. 2,642,699, dated June 23, 1953, to C. D. Green. The Green duck callincludes an elongated bar having a plurality of equally spaced teeth onone surface thereof and a complimentary striker piece which ischaracterized by a hollow amplifying tube provided with a sharp edge forengaging the teeth on the bar, to simulate the call of a wild duck.

It is an object of this invention to provide a turkey call which ischaracterized by a call box having an interior sound chamber, a slatestriker plate which is coextensive with the sound chamber, and a strikerfor engaging the slate striker plate to simulate the call of a turkey.By describing the striker plate as "coextensive with the sound chamber",applicant means that the extension of the plate is defined by an areaequal to and positioned in vertically overlying alignment with one ofthe interior walls of the sound chamber.

Another object of this invention is to provide a new and improved turkeycall which is sufficiently small to be held in the palm of the hand andincludes a rectangular frame constructed of cedar strips, a formica topand bottom, a rectangular-shaped interior sound chamber and a slatestriker plate, with an elongated striker having a solid plastic strikertip for rubbing against the slate striker plate and simulating the callof a wild turkey.

Yet another object of this invention is to provide a new and improvedturkey call which is characterized by a rectangular-shaped box having athin top and bottom, an open end communicating with a rectangular-shapedinterior sound chamber and a slate striker plate secured to the top ofthe box, which slate striker plate is coextensive with the soundchamber, and further including an elongated striker having acylindrically-shaped interior striker sound chamber and a plastic tipfor engaging the slate striker plate and effecting a sound whichsimulates the call of a wild turkey.

Still another object of this invention is to provide a turkey call whichincludes as a first element, a rectangular-shaped call box constructedof cedar side member, a cedar end member, formica sheets closing thecedar members to define a sound chamber which is open to the atmosphereat one end and a slate striker plate glued to one of the formica sheetsand coextensive in size with the sound chamber. The second element ofthe turkey call is characterized by a hollow, elongated striker having asolid plastic tip projecting from one end and communicating with thehollow interior of the striker, for rubbing against the slate plate andgenerating sounds which simulate the call of a wild turkey.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

These and other objects of this invention are provided in a turkey callwhich is characterized by a rectangular-shaped call box having a thinprofile and constructed of cedar side and end strips, with a pair offormica plates covering the top and bottom of the strips, leaving oneend open to define a hollow rectangular-shaped sound chamber. A slatestriker plate is glued to one of the formica plates and is coextensivein size with the interior sound chamber and a wooden striker having acylindrical bore in one end and a length of solid plastic tapering to ablunt contact surface projecting from the opposite end, is used tocontact the slate striker plate and generate sounds in the call boxsound chamber and the hollow striker which simulate the call of a wildturkey.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWING

The invention will be better understood by reference to the accompanyingdrawing, wherein:

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a preferred embodiment of the call boxand striker elements of the turkey call of this invention;

FIG. 2 is a sectional view, taken along line 2--2, of the call boxillustrated in FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is a sectional view, taken along line 3--3, of the strikerillustrated in FIG. 1;

FIG. 4 is a sectional view, taken along line 4--4, of the call boxillustrated in FIG. 1;

FIG. 5 is a front end view, partially in section, of the call box andstriker tip, with the striker tip contacting the slate striker plate;and

FIG. 6 is a top view of the striker.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

Referring to FIGS. 1-4 and 6 of the drawing, the turkey call of thisinvention is generally illustrated by reference numeral 1. The turkeycall 1 consist of two basic elements, a rectangular call box 2 and astriker 9. In a most preferred embodiment of the invention the call box2 is characterized by a pair of parallel side members 3, joined at oneend by an end member 4 and open at the opposite end. A thin base 6 spansthe side members 3 and the end member 4 on the bottom thereof and a thincap 5 closes the call box 2, except for the open end which communicateswith a rectangular-shaped box sound chamber 7. A thin,rectangular-shaped slate striker plate 8 is glued or otherwise securedto the cap 5 and is coextensive in size with the box sound chamber 7that is, the slate striker plate 8 has an area the same as, and is invertically overlying alignment with, the portion of the cap 5 whichmakes up the upper wall of the chamber 7, as illustrated. The front edge18 of the slate striker plate 8 extends in the same plane with the frontedges of the cap 5, base 6 and the side members 3.

In a preferred embodiment of the invention the striker 9 element of theturkey call 1 includes a generally cylindrically-shaped striker handle10, which is provided with a cylindrically-shaped striker sound chamber13 in an upper portion thereof and a round, blunt striker tip 14projecting from the opposite end thereof. The striker tip 14 includes agenerally cylindrically-shaped tip body 15, terminated at one end by atip taper 16 and a tip end 17, and at the opposite end by a tip base 19,which is securely embedded in the opposite end of the striker handle 10.In another preferred embodiment of the invention a handle plenum 12communicates between the tip base 19 of the tip body 15 and the strikersound chamber 13, located in the upper end of the striker handle 10.

In a most preferred embodiment, the handle plenum 12 is smaller indiameter than the diameter of the striker sound chamber 13, in order toenhance the transmission of vibrations from the striker tip 14 to thestriker sound chamber 13.

Referring now to FIG. 5 of the drawing, the turkey call 1 is used bymanipulating the striker 9 such that the tip end 17 of the striker tip14 contacts the slate striker plate 8 located on the call box 2, asillustrated. The striker handle 10 is then manipulated to move the tipend 17 across the surface of the slate striker plate 8 with scratchingmotions of varying length, while adjusting the contact pressure betweenthe tip end 17 and the slate striker plate 8. These motions of thestriker 9 create vibrations in the slate striker plate 8 and the tipbody 15 of the striker 9, which vibrations are transmitted through thecap 5 to the air located in the box sound chamber 7 and through the tipbody 15 and handle plenum 12 to the striker sound chamber 13, tosimulate the call of a wild turkey. With practice, considerable skillcan be developed in the manipulation of the tip end 17 against the slatestriker plate 8 to create vibrations and corresponding sounds whichclosely simulate the wild turkey call. Furthermore, the sound isamplified, not only through the box sound chamber 7, but also throughthe striker sound chamber 13 and is therefore rendered more audible tothe game.

An important feature of the turkey call of this invention is thelocation of the slate striker plate 8 directly over and coextensive withthe rectangular box sound chamber 7, in order to transmit vibrationsfrom the tip body 15 through the cap 5 to the air in the box soundchamber 7. It has surprisingly been found that a hard material such as alaminated thermosetting material commonly known as "formica", easily andreadily transmits the vibrations from the tip body 15 and the slatestriker plate 8 into the box sound chamber 7. The base 6, which is alsomost preferably shaped from formica, serves to further enhance thequality of the sound emitted from the box sound chamber 7, due to itscorresponding hardness and ease of transmitting vibration. Furthermore,it is also been found that wood, and particularly cedar wood, is idealmaterial of construction for the side members 3 and the end member 4,under circumstances where formica is used as the cap 5 and the base 6.This contrast between the hardness of the formica cap 5 and base 6 andthe relative softness of the supporting cedar side members 3 and endmember 4, coupled with the rectangular shape of the box sound chamber 7,apparently serves to transmit vibrations into the box sound chamber 7from the entire slate striker plate 8 in an optimum manner, with adampening of the vibrations in the side members 3 and end member 4. Aclear, loud sound of high quality is therefore emitted from the boxsound chamber 7. Experimentation has further shown that a slate strikerplate 8 of about 1/16th inch in thickness is optimum for receiving andtransmitting vibrations to the box sound chamber 7. Furthermore, formicahaving a thickness in the range of from about 1/32 to about 1/16 of aninch, and most preferably about 1/32 of an inch, is most preferred foruse in the construction of the cap 5 and the base 6 in the turkeycall 1. It is also been found that a rectangular box sound chamber 7most preferably ranging in height from about 1/16th of an inch to aboutone quarter of an inch, and in width from about 21/2 inches to about13/4 inches, is ideal for transmitting sound of high quality from theturkey call 1. A most preferred dimension for the box sound chamber 7 isabout one quarter of an inch in height by about 1 and 3/4 of an inch inwidth, when the slate striker plate 8, cap 5 and base 6 arecharacterized by the dimensions and materials set forth above.

Another important discovery regarding the turkey call 1 of thisinvention is the requirement that the call box 2 be rectangular inconfiguration and the sound box chamber 7 be significantly wider thanits height. This feature, in combination with the selection of a slatestriker plate 8 which is coextensive in size with the box sound chamber7, and a choice of materials of construction which include cedar sidemembers 3 and a cedar end member 4, with a formica cap 5 and base 6,combine to produce a turkey call 1 which is extremely sensitive, easy tohold and use and is characterized by optimum efficiency in producingnoises which closely simulate the call of a wild turkey.

Another important feature of the turkey call of this invention is thedesign of the striker 9 component. The striker 9 is provided with astriker handle 10 having a striker sound chamber 13 which is generallycylindrical in configuration and is bored through one end of the strikerhandle 10, as illustrated in FIG. 3. The tip body 15, which isconstructed of a solid thermoplastic or thermoresin material commonlyknown as "plastic", is provided with a tip taper 16 at one end, whichtapers to a smoothly rounded tip end 17 and is embedded in the oppositeend of the striker handle 10 from the striker sound chamber 13, at thetip base 19. Transmission of vibrations created by rubbing the tip end17 against the slate striker plate 8 to the striker sound chamber 13 isenhanced by a handle plenum 12 located in the interior of the strikerhandle 10, one end of which handle plenum 12 communicates with the tipbase 19 and the other with the striker sound chamber 13. As heretoforenoted, it has surprisingly been found that a handle plenum 12 having asmaller diameter than the striker sound chamber 13 more efficientlytransmits vibrations from the tip body 15 to the striker sound chamber13, than a bore of uniform size extending to the tip base 19.Accordingly, the combination of a shaped box sound chamber 7 having thedimensions described above, and a striker sound chamber 13 designed tocommunicate by means of the handle plenum 12 with the striker tip 14,serves to accurately reproduce and emit the call of a wild turkey, inthe hands of one who has practiced using the turkey call 1 of thisinvention. In yet another most preferred embodiment of the invention thestriker handle 10 of the striker 9 is about 3/8 of an inch in diameterand the tip end 7 is blunt and rounded, in order to facilitate easymanipulation of the tip end 7 across the surface of the slate strikerplate 8 at selected angles of inclination and with varying contactpressure, to accurately reproduce the call of a wild turkey. In afurther most preferred embodiment of the invention, the diameter of thetip end 17 at the point where the tip taper 16 terminates, is about 1/16of an inch, and the striker 9 is from about 1/2 to about 18 inches inlength.

While the preferred embodiments of the invention have been describedabove, it will be recognized and understood the various modificationsmay be made therein and the appended claims are intended to cover allsuch modifications which may fall within the spirit and scope of theinvention.

Having described my invention with the particularity set forth above,what is claimed is:
 1. A turkey call comprising a generallyrectangular-shaped call box having rectangular walls enclosing arectangular-shaped box sound chamber in the interior of said call box; arectangular-shaped opening provided in one end of said call box, saidopening communicating with said box sound chamber; a slate striker platesecured to an outside surface of one of said walls of said call box,said slate striker plate being provided in substantially coextensiverelationship with respect to said box sound chamber; and a strikercharacterized by a handle, a cylindrically-shaped open striker soundchamber provided in one end of said handle and a blunt striker tipprojecting from the opposite end of said handle for engaging said slatestriker plate on said call box and generating sounds which simulate thecall of a wild turkey.
 2. The turkey call of claim 1 wherein said callbox is constructed of a cedar frame and a formica cover.
 3. The turkeycall of claim 1 wherein said striker tip is constructed of a plasticmaterial.
 4. The turkey call of claim 1 wherein:(a) said call box isconstructed of a cedar frame and a formica cover; and (b) said strikertip is constructed of a plastic material.
 5. The turkey call of claim 4further comprising a plenum in said handle, said plenum connecting saidstriker sound chamber and said striker tip and having a diameter lessthan the diameter of said striker sound chamber.
 6. A turkey callcomprising a generally rectangular-shaped call box characterized by apair of side members oriented in spaced, generally parallelrelationship; an end member joining said side members at one end of saidside members; a base spanning said side members and said end member onone side thereof; a cap corresponding in size to said base and spanningsaid side members and said end member on the opposite side thereof todefine a rectangular sound chamber open at one end; a slate strikerplate secured to said cap, said slate striker plate oriented insubstantially coextensive relationship with respect to said soundchamber; and a striker having a handle and a substantially blunt plastictip carried by said handle, for engaging said slate striker plate. 7.The turkey call of claim 6 further comprising a generallycylindrically-shaped striker sound chamber provided in said handle. 8.The turkey call of claim 6 wherein said side members and said end memberare cedar.
 9. The turkey call of claim 6 wherein said cap and said baseare formica.
 10. The turkey call of claim 6 wherein:(a) said sidemembers and said end member are cedar; and (b) said cap and said baseare formica;
 11. The turkey call of claim 6 further comprising agenerally cylindrically-shaped striker sound chamber provided in saidsaid handle, and wherein:(a) said side members and said end member arecedar; and (b) said cap and said base are formica;
 12. The turkey callof claim 11 wherein said tip of said striker is a solid plastic materialand said handle is wood.
 13. The turkey call of claim 7 furthercomprising a plenum in said striker, said plenum having a diameter lessthan the diameter of said striker sound chamber and extending betweensaid striker sound chamber and said tip.
 14. The turkey call of claim 7further comprising a plenum in said striker, said plenum having adiameter less than the diameter of said striker sound chamber andextending between said striker sound chamber and said tip, andwherein:(a) said side members and said end member are cedar; (b) saidcap and said base are formica; and (c) said tip of said striker is asolid plastic material and said handle is wood.
 15. A turkey callcomprising:(a) a rectangular-shaped call box characterized by a pair ofspaced, parallel side members; an end member connecting said sidemembers at one end thereof; a formica base covering one side of saidside members and said end member; a formica cap covering the oppositeside of said side members and said end member, said cap oriented inparallel, spaced relationship with respect to said base, and said endmember, said side members, said base and said cap defining arectangular-shaped interior box sound chamber in said call box; anopening at the end of said call box remote from said end member, saidopening communicating with said sound chamber; and a slate striker plateattached to said cap, said slate striker plate being substantiallycoextensive in length and width with said sound chamber; and (b) astriker characterized by a handle, a generally cylindrically-shapedstriker sound chamber located in one end of said handle; a striker tipprojecting from the opposite end of said handle from said one end forengaging said slate striker plate on said call box; and a plenum in saidhandle, said plenum communicating with said striker sound chamber andsaid striker tip.
 16. The turkey call of claim 15 wherein said sidemembers and said end member are cedar.
 17. The turkey call of claim 15wherein said striker tip is a solid plastic material and said handle iswood.
 18. The turkey call of claim 15 wherein:(a) said side members andsaid end member are cedar; and (b) said striker tip is a solid plasticmaterial and said handle is wood.
 19. The turkey call of claim 15wherein said plenum is characterized by a diameter which is less thanthe diameter of said striker sound chamber.
 20. The turkey call of claim15 wherein:(a) said side members and end member are cedar; (b) saidstriker tip is a solid plastic material and said handle is wood; and (c)said plenum is characterized by a diameter which is less than thediameter of said striker sound chamber.